The Daily Star Ireland
Albania will face Ukraine in a crucial Nations League match on Tuesday, with both teams looking to secure a positive result. Here’s a breakdown of the match, covering their recent form, head-to-head record, and predictions.
Albania
Albania heads into this game with confidence after a hard-fought 1-0 win over Georgia in their previous Nations League match. Despite controlling only 36% of possession, Albania managed to create 10 goal-scoring opportunities, with Kristjan Asllani scoring the only goal in the 48th minute. Georgia, on the other hand, had 16 shots, three of which were on target.
Defensively, Albania has had some issues, conceding in five of their last six games and allowing seven goals in total. However, they will look to build on their recent victory and aim for another strong performance against Ukraine.
Ukraine
Ukraine enters this match after a 1-1 draw with the Czech Republic in their last Nations League outing. They had 52% possession and registered 13 shots, with Artem Dovbyk scoring in the 53rd minute. The Czech Republic responded with a goal from Lukáš Červ in the 18th minute.
Under the guidance of coach Serhiy Rebrov, Ukraine has scored seven goals in their last six matches but has conceded the same number, revealing some defensive vulnerabilities. They will need to improve their defense to secure a better result against Albania.
Head-to-Head Record
The most recent meeting between these two sides took place on September 7, 2024, in the Nations League. Despite Ukraine dominating possession with 59% and having 16 shots, Albania won 2-1. Ukraine’s goal came from Yukhym Konoplia in the 49th minute, but Albania responded with goals from Ardian Ismajli and Jasir Asani in the 54th and 66th minutes, respectively.
Team News
Both teams have fully fit squads, with no injuries or suspensions reported. Albania’s coach Sylvinho Mendes Campos and Ukraine’s manager Serhiy Rebrov will both have access to their strongest lineups.
Prediction
This match is expected to be a tightly contested battle, with Ukraine slightly favored to secure the win. Albania will need to perform well defensively to break through Ukraine’s backline, but Ukraine is likely to make the most of their opportunities.
The predicted scoreline is a narrow 1-0 victory for Ukraine. Experts also expect a low-scoring match with fewer than 3.5 goals, indicating a tactical and closely fought encounter between the two teams.
